Handpiece for billiard cues and the like



June 27, 1944; F. w. STAPFF 2,352,294

HANDPIECE FOR BILLIARD CUES AND THE LIKE Filed April 26, 1943 IN VEN TOR, FREDERICK M. STAPFF.

Patented June 27, 1944 T- OFFICE HANDPIECE' FOR BIL LIARD CUES AND THE LIK- Frederick W. Stapif, San Mateo,

of one-fourth to Anna Stapff Mateo, Calif.

Califi, assignor Wyckoif, San

Application April 26, 1943,'Serial No. 484,546 8 Claims. (Cl. 273-68) This invention relates billiard cues and the like. 7

Having invented a miniature .revolvable billiard table utilizing miniature billiard balls and whereby the player remains seated in one position during play, I found that the conventional type of billiard cue was far too large and cumbersome, as conventional billiard strokes could not be properly executed by a player inseated position. Further, the accuracy and judgment of mass shots to a handpiece for and hitting a thin ball or following through on a particular shot was impossible of correct performance with the conventional ty e of cue, as my billiard balls are only approximately one inch indiameter.

I have invented a novel hand-piece for small billiard cues which allows the played to make difficult mass shots and which allows the player to hit a thin ball with utmost accuracy. My novel hand-piece for cues allows the player to ,follow through with his shot in the same manner as when playing with a conventional cue at a full size billiard table in normal standing position.

In other words, a miniature billiard table utilizing one inch billiard ballscan only be made to function perfectly andas scientifically and satisfactorily as a standard sized or conventional table provided the billiard cue stroke is a natural, easy-flowing, follow through as recommended by all experts. This my hand-piece does, as demonstrated by a diamond system expert in essaying five difiicult tWice-around-the-table bank shots and making the count on all of them. I have found that a cue approximately 18" to 20" in length, equipped with my handpiece is highly satisfactory when used in conjunction with my revolvable 12" x 24" table and the miniature balls aforesaid.

The objects of my invention are to provide a novel handpiece for billiard cues; to provide a handpiece for cues which makes the cue available for use in conjunction with a miniature billiard table with the player in seated position; to provide a billiard cue whereby the player in a seated position may make any difficult thin ball shots and allows him to follow through his shots; to provide a hand-piece for a billiard cue or the like, whereby power and accuracy may be imparted to the cue; to provide a hand-piece for billiard cues and the like which is removable therefrom; and to provide a hand-piece for billiard cues which is inexpensive and simple to manufacture and assemble. Other objects and advantages will become apparent upon referring to the accompanyingdescription and the drawing annexed hereto and made a part hereof.

Referring now to the drawing in Which similar characters of reference represent corresponding parts in the several views:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of my novel handpiece attached to a billiard cue, the relative position of the hands of the player being shown, in part, in readiness for a shot at a billiard ball positioned on a part of a billiard table playing surface.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view of my novel handpiece and billiard cue thereto attached, taken on line II-II of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary detail of the sleeve and handpiece in disengaged position.

The billiard cue to which I preferably aflix my hand-piece is considerably smaller than the conventional billiard cue in accordance with the miniature balls utilized on a small billiard table as aforementioned. The cue is represented generally at 2. My hand-piece, generally indicated at, 3, comprises a bifurcated member having two arms 4 and 5 projected from a handle portion 6 and in alignment therewith. I

As illustrated herein, in Fig. 2, my hand-piece comprises two complementary identical portions abutted against one another to form a hand portion 6 and held in that position by glue and rivets l or by any other suitable means. It is obvious that the hand-piece could be made integral rather than in two parts as herein illustrated. Projecting arms 4 and 5 are preferably formed of resilient material, such as straight grain hard wood or the like. Pins 8, preferably conical, are provided in the arms adjacent to the ends thereof in axial alignment with one another and which project outwardly toward one another from the inner surfaces of said arms, as. illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3.

I provide a split metal tubular sleeve, generally indicated at H], which is provided with concave socket members I l on the outside surface of said split sleeve midway between the ends thereof and diametrically opposed to one another and the socket portions in axial alignment with one another. The two ends of the split sleeve are spaced from one another, as at l2, in order that the said sleeve may be expanded for the purpose as will hereinafter appear. The pins 8 are adapted to be received in the sockets II, as illustrated in Fig. 2.

The sleeve is inserted on the cue, which is generally of tapered construction, i. e. tapering from a relatively'small circumference at its tip end between sleeve and one is obtained by the frictional engagement of the said split sleeve and relatively large butt portion of the cue.

Assuming the hand-piece, sleeve and cue have not been affixed to one another, the player would insert the sleeve 10 onto the cue 2 to a position of suitable security thereon. Then by spreading apart the arms 4 and 5 and inserting the pins 8 into sleeve sockets H, see Fig. 3, the cue and hand-piece would be in the assembled position shown in Fig. 1. By grasping the hand-piece substantially as shown at IS in Fig. 1 and supporting the tip end of the cue in the usual manner as shown at IS, an accurate shot may be made with the cue ball I! by a backward and forward motion imparted to the cue through the hand-piece by the Wrist and fingers of the holder hand. It will be observed that if the cue is held in a perfectly horizontal position and the holder or hand-piece depended downwardly therefrom and normal thereto, then the force or motive power of the cue, imparted by the wrist and fingers, will simulate a stroke which is considered ideal by all billiard authorities.

It is noted that pins 8 received in sockets II are pivotally engaged therein so that there may be a relative vertical angular movement between the hand-piece and billiard cue, the hand-piece or holder can be held in a substantially horizontal plane while the cue is in an almost vertical position thereby allowing the player to make difiicult mass shots and permitting the cue to follow through after a given shot in simulation of conventional billiard form, all while the player remains in comfortable seated position.

It is obvious that while I have described and illustrated my invention in more or less specific detail for purposes of description, that various modification and changes in structure and design may be made Within .the spirit of my invention, it being understood that the invention is not limited except by the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. A unitary handpiece for billiard cues and the like comprising a rigid bifurcated handle member having a handle portion adapted to be pivotally attached thereto.

2. A unitary handpiece for billiard cues and the like comprising a rigid bifurcated member adapted to be removably attached thereto.

3. A handpiece for billiard cues and the like comprising a rigid unitary handle member having a handle portion and means for attaching said handle member to said cue whereby the cue and handle member may move angularly with respect to one another.

4. A handpiece for billiard cues and the like comprising a bifurcated rigid unitary handle member having a handle portion, and means to attach removably and pivotally said handle member to a cue.

5. A handpiece attachment for billiard cues and the like comprising a bifurcated handle member, a sleeve, and means coacting between said sleeve and said handle member to permit pivotal movement therebetween.

6. An attachment for billiard cues and the like comprising a rigid handle member having an integral handle portion, a member adapted to be directly and removably fitted to a cue, and means coacting between said last mentioned member and said handle member to allow pivotal movement therebetween in the axial plane of the said handle portion of the said handle member.

'7. An attachment for billiard cues and the like comprising a member having a handle portion and arm portions, a split sleeve, and means coacting between said arm portions and said sleeve to permit pivotal movement therebetween.

8. An attachment for billiard cues and the like comprising a member having a handle portion and arm portions, a sleeve, and means coacting between said arm portions and said sleeve to permit pivotal movement therebetween, including axially aligned pins provided in said arm portions and projecting toward one another from the inside surfaces thereof and sockets provided on the outer periphery of said sleeve and diametrically and axially aligned with one another.

FREDERICK W. STAPFF. 

